Holistic Advocacy for the Prevention and Protection of the Youth (HAPPY) addresses various harmful factors that can impede the progress of children, youth and young adults, and the applicability of the term “HAPPY” is endless. Some of the common examples include:

 

HAPPY against Harmful Drugs
HAPPY against Mental Health Problems
HAPPY against Gender Based Violence
HAPPY against Gender Discrimination
HAPPY against Child Marriage
HAPPY against Domestic Violence
HAPPY against Tribalism
HAPPY against Political Violence
HAPPY against Violent Extremism
HAPPY against Human Trafficking
HAPPY against alcoholism

 

YAD`s HAPPY project entails guidance and psychotherapeutic counselling, trauma-healing, social mobilization and awareness-raising programs through sports and media outreach, and high quality skills training programs for underprivileged and at-risk youth and women to improve their job prospects and financial independence.

 

Despite the government and donor partners’ post-war recovery efforts over the past decades, the country remains amongst the world’s poorest, ranking 184 out of 193 in the UNDP Human Development Index (2023/2024). Over 70% of the youth population is unemployed and living in multidimensional poverty. This has led to frustration, pushing many into slums and other marginalized areas, where they turn to dangerous activities such as operating as commercial bike (Okada) riders, engaging in burglary, and succumbing to harmful drugs.

 

There is currently a high prevalence of dangerous drugs among the youth, particularly Kush, which is a mixture of cannabis, fentanyl, cocaine, tramadol, formaldehyde, and ground-down human bones, according to sources. This lethal drug immobilizes users physically, mentally, and socially, leaving them completely motionless and speechless. Users also develop mental disorders that make them a threat to society’s peace and security.